Blogging once felt like a cozy campfire chat with friends from around the world. Personal stories, the sharing of experiences, and heartfelt opinions filled the blogosphere. But as the years marched on blogging changed and I began to wonder what ever happened to blogging for fun?
How did we move from passion and fun-driven writing to profit-oriented content? Will blogging for fun make a return in the coming year?
Table of Contents
The Origins of Blogging for Fun
Personal Expression and Community
In the early days of blogging, the voice was king. It didn’t matter if your site was homemade or your grammar had hiccups. People wrote to express themselves, share daily musings, and connect with strangers who felt like friends.
Bloggers spun tales about their lives, interests, and the world around them. Readers would comment, starting conversations that spanned continents on popular blogs.
It was heartfelt and genuine, an online diary mixed with the companionship of a coffee chat. I met many wonderful people back in the early days of blogging either on their blogs or on the X Twitter platform where we shared our latest or best blog posts.
What Ever Happened To Blogging For Fun: The Rise of DIY Culture
The early 2000s saw a surge in DIY culture. Blogs became a tool for anyone eager to share ideas, from crafting perfect pie crusts to mastering a punk rock guitar riff. Platforms like WordPress and Blogger made it easy, letting anyone with an internet connection claim a slice of the web.
I began over on Blogger where I met my now developer Mayura, the great Ileane Smith – Queen of YouTube and others like Gail from the GrowMap blog, Martin from Tea Party Media and my friend Bren who no longer blogs.
Lisa: I have been blogging since 2002.
— Martin Lindeskog🗽🌐💎🫖🍵🧉🙃 (@LyceumPeripatos) November 11, 2024
The focus wasn’t on analytics or algorithms so much back then; it was about participation. If you had something to say, the internet was your place to chat.
The Shift Towards Monetization is What Ever Happened To Blogging for Fun Changed
The Ad Revenue Boom
As eyeballs turned digital, businesses saw opportunity. Advertisements started creeping into blogs, offering a way to earn from clicks and page views. Suddenly, personal blogs transformed into content machines.
Bloggers began to see their friend’s making money and they wanted in on it. How did the others do it? They began to read others posts on how to make money blogging.
Writers traded passionate prose for SEO-driven posts. It was about driving traffic and generating revenue. The more ads, the bigger the paycheck.
Influencers and Sponsored Content
The blogging world took another turn with the rise of influencers. Brands wanted in, offering products and cash for reviews and sponsorships. While some creatives thrived in this new money making era, others found it stifling.
The line between genuine advice and paid promotion blurred. Blogging became less about sharing life and more about showcasing aspirational lifestyles and perfectly curated posts.
It wasn’t enough to write for fun; now, you had to write to impress. This left many bloggers to stop writing and only stay on social media networks.
Not sure exactly. I think I started the Jewish Venice blog around 20 years ago, which eventually evolved into social media postings. I started the Rebbetzin Unplugged blog in 2020.
— Rebbetzin Unplugged MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER | BLOGGER (@RebtznUnplugged) November 11, 2024
AI Shaking Up Blogging For Fun in Big Ways
AI is cutting down the time it takes to brainstorm and outline blog posts. Think of it as a research buddy that never gets tired, finding the right data before you even grab your third cup of coffee.
SEO is also getting a boost. AI tools can suggest keywords faster and more accurately than a human guess ever could.
Don’t forget AI’s knack for personalizing content. It helps bloggers craft more targeted posts by understanding what topics readers care about most. This means more engagement and followers.
But here’s a question: Are we losing some of the human touch in writing? It’s a fine line, keeping the blogging art while using these new tools.
The Impact of Social Media on Blogging
The Short Attention Span Culture
What ever happened to blogging for fun in the past few years? Enter the rise of social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
These sites put a premium on quick, snappy content. Short videos and photos gained favor over in-depth articles.
Why read a thousand words when a meme or a reel sums it up in seconds? This shift catered to the growing demand for immediacy and brevity, leaving long-form blogging feeling like a relic of another time.
Decline in Personal Blogging Platforms
As social media grew, standalone blogs faced decline. Facebook, Instagram, X Twitter, and other social networks became the new spaces for personal updates and stories.
People no longer needed a dedicated blog to broadcast their thoughts; a status update or tweet sufficed. Blogs that once buzzed with life slowly faded, some suspended in a time when fun was all that mattered.
Is There Hope for Blogging for Fun To Return?
Niche Blogging and Passion Projects
Not all is lost. Some bloggers have rekindled the writing spark by getting into niche topics. They write about obscure interests, from rare plant species to vintage video games, attracting readers with shared passions.
These niche bloggers prove that there’s a place for joy-filled writing, free from the pressure of monetization.
The Rise of Video and Livestreaming
Other bloggers like Ileane Smith preferred speaking to people through videos and lifestreams. Video and livestreaming have taken over how we share and consume content.
With platforms like X, and Twitch, everyone’s got a stage. People are ditching long reads for quick clips and live interactions. It’s all about catching attention in a split second.
Brands and creators are capitalizing on this, pulling in audiences with engaging, real-time content. Plus, constant internet access makes it easy for anyone to tune in anytime, anywhere.
Whether it’s gaming, tutorials, or events, the shift to video is massive. Many bloggers felt pressured to do video and to go live.
Podcasts Grow
Podcasts have reshaped how people consume content, shaking up the blogging scene ever since Joe Rogan began podcasting in 2009. These podcasts have become a massive hit because people love tuning in, whether they’re driving, working out, or just chilling at home.
Blogs now need to step up their game. Readers expect more than just text—they want multimedia experiences. This shift means bloggers have to think hard about how they present their stories, maybe by adding audio or even teaming up with podcasters.
The rise of podcasts isn’t just about listening; it’s about changing how we share and engage with information.
As audio became more popular X offers spaces on their platform so people can join in and chat. It is like an expanded podcast. I’ve noticed some old bloggers now hosting these spaces on the X network.
Building Community in the Digital Age
Other new platforms and forums are sprouting, allowing writers to connect without chasing algorithms. Communities form around shared interests, echoing the early days of blog rings and bulletin boards.
These spaces nurture creativity and foster engagement, proving that blogging for fun isn’t dead—it’s just evolving.
The Medium and SubStack Blogs
Medium and Substack have become key players for writers looking to share their voice and make money. Medium offers a built-in audience and lets writers focus on content without worrying about SEO as much as on their own owned blog properties.
Writers put out pieces, and Medium’s algorithm does the rest, getting their work in front of the right eyes. I’ve found some of my posts over on Medium have done very well in the search engine rankings.
Not only that but I’ve connected with more writers there today than with other blogs as comments have faded on many blogs. Comments are still flourishing over on Medium.
Substack, on the other hand, gives writers full control over their subscribers, making it a hit for those who prefer direct engagement and potential income from subscriptions.
However, if you don’t follow their rules you can lose your content as I did with Substack. I was using it as a newsletter with blog and that was against the rules.
Conclusion: What Ever Happened To Blogging For Fun in 2024?
Blogging’s journey from passion pastime to building a profit machine reflects broader internet trends. Yet, the desire for authenticity and connection remain highs.
By embracing niche interests and community-focused platforms, writers can rediscover the magic of blogging for fun. So, dust off that old blog or start a new one. Share your stories, connect with your friends and peers, and let passion lead the way once more. I’d love to know how long you have been blogging for fun.
She has 30+ years of experience in marketing/advertising with 12 years of experience in content marketing, social media, blogging, and SEO.
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So true. Every bit of this. I have been a family blogger for 14 years and it started out as a form of expression. But then with google and SEO, well you change because you want to be seen and found. Some of my changes have been for the better. But it does seem to drive out much of the personal story angle.
Thanks Scarlet for coming by on this blog post. I hear you on that and I’m headed back the original way as SEO is changing rapidly. I will have to check out your blog, congratulations on 14 years!
Hey Lisa! This post really has me thinking and wondering what took the fun out of blogging for me personally. Of course I could turn to all the Google updates of the past (like Panda and Penguin) which was a bit of a “party pooper” so to speak, but what really did it for me was the comment spam. I spent way too much of my time looking for ways to stop it and eventually, after moderating thousands of spam comments I decided to turn them off.
I’m glad you still have them on Lisa but I also love connecting with you on other platforms, like YouTube, Spaces and LinkedIn audio events.
Thanks for the mentions and look forward to our next chat!
Hi Ileane, oh yes, I’ve changed my comments to not have links as they were many broken ones from the past. So many left the blogging world from those earlier days.You are most welcome and I love those chats on the social networks, especially the audio ones today.
Great food for thought here Lisa. I think my blog ranked for “blogging for fun and profit” for a while on Google at position one. I know few search that term but the general spirit was that we can have worldly success while having fun during the journey.
Most bloggers stop having fun and take it very seriously the moment they want to monetize which is a huge mistake because it adds tension, attachment and struggles to the process. The secret is to relax your mind, to have fun helping people with content and to trust fully in the process and your success will expand as you love it the way it is.
Ryan
Thank you Ryan. I agree about adding tension and has an effect on the decisions when writing posts. As they say, do what you love and the money will follow.